In Fall 1981, two Disney College Program recruiters visited campus

Bear Grass
Bear Grass.

 

In Fall 1981, two Disney College Program recruiters visited West Chester State College (now West Chester University) to interview students for seasonal Cast Member roles for Winter/Spring 1982.

Guess who was one of those students.

As the interview concluded, i invited Judy and Gail to our Sig Ep MASH party that night.

You could dress up as a nurse, an officer, a soldier (say, Klinger), a patient, a local.

Two months later an acceptance letter arrived in a West Chester, Pennsylvania student mailbox.

Rather than pick classes for Spring Semester, i booked a one-way flight to Orlando.

With an Army veteran’s duffle bag and a decent (framed) backback, i found my way to Snow White Campground in Kissimmee, Florida – it was at the end of Seven Dwarfs Lane, behind the KOA.

Karma and serendipity rescued me.

i had no idea where the campground was, nor was i prepared to do anything but ask questions and bum a ride (hitch-hike).

Fortunately, the couple i sat with on the plane were intrigued and helpful enough to offer me a ride.

Once i got my key, found the cabin (with full kitchen), the next priority was a case of cold beer.

 

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The Castle is gone

Disney Institute Keynote Speaker
What other cruise line company has features like Fantasia Mickey (seen here on right)?

 

Cinderella Castle is missing.

We created a huge wow for your arrival in Town Square but where’s the Castle?

By design, remember?

By design, we want to give our Guests a second and even more amazing wow.

As you venture further into Town Square you eventually get to the proper angle and there it is – Cinderella Castle.

We want to give our Guests a second, and even more Magical wow than the first.

The first time a Guest experiences this wow, it is unforgettable.

Many of our repeat Guests are able to feel the same first-time Magic, no matter how many times they visit.

 

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Wait and pay, wait, and wait some more

Disney Keynote Speaker
Disney Keynote Speaker

 

First, remember exiting off the Interstate and then the long drive through Disney property (wilderness really) before arriving at the toll plaza?

What’s next?

You wait in line to pay for parking.

Then you wait in line to park.

Then you wait in line to board the parking lot tram.

Then you wait in line to buy Theme Park admission tickets.

Wait in line some more to board the Monorail or the Ferry Boat to Magic Kingdom.

 

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Walt used the hospital room ceiling tiles as a map

Disney Institute Keynote Speaker
The vision is a group shot. The character placement happens organically.

 

“In this square mile we’re gonna do this. In that square mile we’re going to do that.”

The night Walt Disney died, his brother Roy was there. Roy recounted Walt saying the first sentence (above).

Roy was 71. Roy was a retired citizen when Walt died.

A smarter man would have sold the 27,443 acres.

We bought it cheap, we could sell it cheap.

The alligator, snake, and mosquito-infested swampland was purchased at roughly $200/acre.

Besides, there was no way you could build the vacation capital of the world in such a remote and swampy place.

 

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